DAYTONA BEACH, FL (May 31, 2010) – Daytona State College is proud to announce the signing of Dakoda Dowd, winner of more than 185 junior tournaments and once ranked as the nation’s top female for the graduating class of 2011. Dakoda is also the second youngest player to ever compete in an LPGA event having done so at the age of 13.
The Dakoda Dowd story is one of highlights and heartbreaks but not necessarily all on the golf course. At the age of five, Dakoda starting playing golf with her dad. By the time she was eight she was winning age division titles in various junior golf leagues. When nine, Dakoda’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and her parents opted to home school her so she could spend more time with her mother while continuing to compete. She later enrolled at Northside Christian School in St. Petersburg, FL, as a sixth grader. There, she helped lead her team to their first and only state high school championship in 2005, maintaining a 37 nine hole scoring average. She shot 74-75 at the state championship and finished in the top 10 individually.
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he following year it was announced that Dakoda’s mother’s cancer had developed into bone, liver and brain cancer and that it was terminal. Her mother was quoted in a newspaper article as saying she really wished she would have had the opportunity to see her daughter play professionally as she thought she would pursue this as a career. The LPGA and the Ginn Open answered her mom’s prayers when they offered Dakoda the opportunity to play in their LPGA event in April of 2006. Dakoda went on to shoot an incredible 74 on day one placing her well within the cut line. On day two the emotional experience took its toll on her and she finished with a score of 82. She was still on the cut line with eight holes to play but struggled after an emotion filled week. Her courageous showing would later earn her a nomination for an ESPY Award for greatest sports moment of the year.
Two months after the LPGA event Dakoda traveled to Orlando to compete in the FWSGA (Florida Women’s State Golf Association) Championship. She would come from four shots back after day one to shoot a three under 69, on day two to win the state championship by two strokes over current LPGA star, Vicky Hurst with scores of 72-69.
Dakoda went on to medal in her qualifying tournament for the US Junior Girls Championship. At this event she made it through stroke play before getting knocked out in the match play competition. She participated in the Orange Bowl in December of 2006, but took a much needed break afterward as her mother’s health was fading. Dakoda’s mom passed away on May 24, 2007.
This past year Dakoda has recommitted herself to getting her game back in shape in order to be ready to compete at the collegiate level and will be playing in several tournaments this summer before she starts school in August.
Dakoda recently commented, “I cannot begin to tell you how thoroughly excited I am to become a Falcon. From the minute I stepped on campus I could tell it was the perfect fit. The town, campus, coach and players were all so welcoming and it just fits like a glove for me. I look forward to being a part of the incredible Falcon tradition that Coach Brown has established, and starting a new and exciting chapter in my life.”
“Daytona State College is extremely happy to sign Dakoda,” stated Daytona State Coach Laura Brown. “We’re looking forward to Dakoda regaining her dominance in women’s golf and adding another element to our championship team.”
Daytona State College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Florida Community College Athletics Association Mid-Florida Conference. The Falcons currently compete in seven Division I NJCAA sports including Men's and Women's Basketball, Baseball, Fast-Pitch Softball, Women's Golf and Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving. The main focus of the Daytona State Falcons athletic program is to prepare student-athletes for success in life. This is accomplished through strong academic programs and support services coupled with quality coaching and athletic facilities.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Glyn Johnston, Vice President, Marketing, Communications & Events, (386) 506-4499, johnstg@DaytonaState.edu
A Member of the Florida College System
Daytona State College assures equal opportunity in employment and education services to all individuals without regard to race, sex, color, age, religion, disability, national origin, political affiliation or belief, or marital status.
